Employers hoping to recruit more contractors and freelancers ahead of Brexit

General uncertainty surrounding Britain’s upcoming departure from the European Union (EU) has inspired employers to target more contractors and freelancers as opposed to permanent staff when recruiting fresh talent, a new survey reveals.

According to the latest JobsOutlook survey carried out by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), employers are taking a more ‘cautious’ approach to recruitment amid concerns over the impact Brexit might have on Britain’s business landscape.

Specifically, many businesses are turning towards contractors and freelancers in a bid to plug skills gaps in their organisations, as opposed to recruiting permanent or long-term employees.

Upon surveying 600 UK employers, the research found that almost a quarter (22 per cent) of companies that already provide work to contractors are hoping to recruit more in the coming four to 12 months.

In comparison, only 17 per cent of respondents said that they had plans to recruit more permanent members of staff in that same timeframe.

Commenting on the data, Tom Hadley, Director of Policy at the REC, said: “Employers are potentially turning to temps, which could bring opportunities to candidates interested in temporary work and the flexibility it affords, but is also a sign employers are affected by economic and political uncertainty.”